A Non-Profit Organization for Retired Men Devoted to the Promotion of Independence and Dignity of Retirement Our mission is to improve the lives of our members through fun activities and events while making friends for life ROOSTER TALES Next meeting - Thursday March 1 st 2018 Oakhurst Country Club If you can t attend, call the hotline 925-338-1996 Big SlR Message We join SIR to enjoy our retirement through fun activities and making new friends. These activities don t happen by accident. Help out if you can. The Program for March Smart 911 Program There are no strangers at a SIR luncheon. You can t make new friends if you don t meet anyone. Reach out. Extend your hand. Find someone new to listen to your stories. Listen to theirs. Friendship starts when two people meet. When the leadership discussed the issues related to welcoming new members it was clear that managing the seating at luncheons was unpopular, cumbersome, and impractical. We can t legislate congeniality but we can facilitate it. So we re going to make the badges easier to read by MAKING THE NAMES BIGGER and we re going to identify new members by highlighting their names with a green stripe for the first year of membership. These actions will help, but a face you don t recognize should be met with a handshake. That simple welcoming gesture is the starting point to a new friendship. It s time to select a SIR of the Year for 2018. Send your nominations to members of the Executive Committee. This is an opportunity to recognize one of your peers. The winner will be selected by the Executive Committee in April and announced in May. Say Thank You to Darryl Diamond and Barry Silberman. They are the guys who sit at the table each month and take your money, pay the bills, reconcile the bank accounts and prepare financial reports. They are volunteers, the work they do is necessary, and we should thank them for what they do. It s 2018, you ve got a lot left. Make the most of it. + Big Sir Ken Kuhn (kakuhn01@gmail.com) Margaret Romiti Margaret will be talking to us about the new Smart911 program. This is a new service that allows residents to create a free Safety Profile for their entire family. To create your own Safety Profile for your household, simply sign up online at www.smart911.com. Since 2007 Margaret Romiti began her work with the Concord Police Department as their Volunteer and Emergency Service Coordinator. In 2011 she was promoted to Manager of the program that includes community outreach and crime prevention. She spent the first 13 years of her career working with law enforcement, probation, schools, and local businesses in the formation and supervision of multiple alternative education programs for four cities and five school districts. This included counseling, teaching, program development and implementation as well as supervision of juvenile diversion programs for the Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood Police Departments. Margaret also sits on the State CERT workgroup for California Volunteers and assisted in writing the California Emergency Volunteer Management Plan. Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 1 of 10
March Menu Caesar Salad Corned Beef and Cabbage Blackened Catfish with Dijon Cream Sauce Vegetarian - Chef s Choice Chocolate Cake March Birthdays Financial Statement Branch 19 Statistics Treasurer Report February 28 th, 2018 Account Balances Petty Cash $ 250.00 General Account Unencumbered $4,230.05 Excursion Fund 67.31 Holiday fund 14.55 Picnic Fund 00.00 Total General Account $4,311.91 Custodial Accounts Bowling $559.61 Golf 1,509.14 Total Custodial $2,068.75 Jerry Burton, John Crawford, John Dorsett, Paul Ferry William Hockenson, Donald Lambert, Tom Lathrop Dean Lucas, Mike McKay, Michael Schmidt George Vogt, Dwayne Williams, John Wolfe Total Funds $6,630.66 Darryl Diamond Branch 19 Treasurer Hiking Group March Anniversaries Last Name First Name Joined Sir Yrs as SIR Carriveau Ronald 03/11/16 2 Jagoda Jack 03/05/09 9 Kapus George 03/01/12 6 Lathrop Tom 03/05/09 9 Monroe Gordon 03/02/00 18 Olison Ben 03/05/15 3 Partansky Joseph 03/03/16 2 Tryon John 03/04/10 8 Williams Dwayne 03/03/11 7 Wolfe John 03/03/11 11 For future exotic hiking adventures, contact Tom Lathrop 689-8981 lathrop689@aol.com George Vogt 672-3703 cvogtgo@att.net Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 2 of 10
Branch 19 Activities Branch 19 Leadership Big Sir: Ken Kuhn Little Sir: John Carl Sr. Secretary: Richard Peterson Asst. Secretary: Dave Requa Treasurer: Darryl Diamond Asst. Treasurers: Barry Silberman, Ken Kuhn Activities Chair: Ted Dobbs (Director) Bocce Capo: John Fernando (Director) Golf Chairman: Jerry Burton (Director) Sunshine Chair: George Vogt Director: Ron Cashion Attendance Chair: John Fair (Director) Speaker Committee: John Wolfe (Director) Bowling: Gary Kaufmann, Mike Kropf Chaplin: George Vogt (Director) Hiking: Tom Lathrop, George Vogt Day Trips: Ted Dobbs Nomination Committee: Jack Barnaba, Larry Kolano, Bruce Persons Newsletter Editor: Rich Balovich Membership Chair: Rob Crabaugh (Director) Public Relations: Vacant Recruitment Chair: Art Owens RAMP Chairman: John Carl Sr. Wine Tasting: Don Weimann Webmaster: Mike Mills (Director) We are 22 weeks into the Season and Team #6 (Three Thorns and a Rose) are in First Pace for the second half so far. Gary Kaufmann is leading the pack with a 222 average. Check the SIR s Bowling Website for upcoming tournaments! Have a Nice Day SIR Mike Kropf SIR Branch 19 Bowling News Gary Kaufmann 925.674.9091 gkaufmann813@gmail.com Mike Kropf 925.689.1453 mdkropf@astound.net Wine Tasting SIRS Branch 19 Wine Tasting Group Meeting Interested in a Particular Activity? SIR offers numerous activities that are available to our members. If you are interested in joining a group that is not offered in your Branch activity list, start one and share the activity with other interested members. Please bring a card and write on it what you "like to do" or "an interest you have which you might like to share with others." I will have a bin on the central table labeled "IDEAS" in which to place the card. We hope to find other activities which we can share with others. Help make SIRS an organization for each of us and all of us. For info on how to find, or start an activity contact : Ted Dobbs, Activity Chair 925-324-5047 ted_dobbs@hotmail.com (Note: There will be no wine tasting in March) Contact: Don Weimann. (925) 672-7711 weimanns@astound.net Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 3 of 10
Branch 19 Golf Information The 18 Hole Golf Group March Schedule Nine Hole Golf Group Every Monday (Except as noted) at approximately 9am, alternating at the following courses, Buchanan and Diablo Hills. Contact: Steve McMurdo smcmurdo@att.net Phone 687-6271 The Schedule for March March 5th. Franklyn Canyon $45.00 (Monday we play Branch 8) March 6th. Lone Tree March 13th. Brentwood $35.00 March 20th. Lone Tree March 27th. Blue Rock Springs $39.00 March 29th. Rancho Solano $40.00 (Thursday) Jerry Burton, Golf Chairman ajgolf24@gmail.com The Calendar About Monthly Attendance Please call the Hotline Number if you cannot attend. (925) 338-1996 Call on or before five (5) days in advance of the monthly luncheon if you cannot attend. That means call by Saturday at the latest. Lunches are ordered for all members who have not called. If you don t show we still have to pay for your meal and you will be charged. So, if you can t attend, call. (925) 338-1996. Membership Attendance is required by the By Laws: Rule 100: A member who misses three (3) consecutive meetings without notifying the committee chair person (or calling the Hotline) giving valid reason or who attends less than six (6) meetings within the last twelve (12) months, shall be notified by the prescribed form, of termination of his membership. December Ladies Day is exempted. Lucky Badge number is somewhere in this issue. Look for JM followed by your badge number. Call the hotline before the luncheon if you find your number and your lunch will be free. Computers & Technology Thursday, March 15 th $ums in Retirement Wednesday, March 28 th Area 2 Fishing Group Thursday, March 22 nd Golf Mondays (Nine Hole) and Tuesdays (18 Hole) (See above) Wine Tasting (No Wine Tasting in March) Dine Around Thursday, March 15 th D.A.T.E. Discussing Ancient Technology & Engineering Wednesday, March14 th Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 4 of 10
The Bocce Report Well another action packed, fun filled, and agonizing Playoff bocce season has come to an end. First of all, a huge expression of gratitude to Sir John Hayes JM 38 and Sir Tom Lathrop for their contribution of time and effort of leading their teams for the 2017 bocce season. Fun was had by all while the competitive spirit was in full swing. Our only team to reach the playoffs, Sirfire, led by Capo John Fernando, were eliminated in the playoffs and didn't quite reach the finals. Better luck to all next season. John Fernando Bocce Chairman jaferna@pacbell.net SIRS Branch 19 Dine Around Thursday, March 15 th, 2018 Overview The Old Spaghetti Factory 1955 Mount Diablo St. Concord, CA 94520 925.687.5030 Italian - A meal at The Old Spaghetti Factory is an experience. We invest meticulous attention to our décor so our guests feel as though they re stepping into another world. See the Yelp website for reviews (3 ½ of 5) of this restaurant: https://www.yelp.com/biz/theold-spaghetti-factory-concord. When Thursday, March 15 th Happy Hour 5:00-6:00 Dinner 6:00 pm Website http://www.osf.com/location/concord-ca/ Menu http://www.osf.com/location/concord-ca/ Menu Location The Old Spaghetti Factory is adjacent to Todos Santos square in downtown Concord. It is located on the square next to the half price Books Store. Park on the street or in the free parking garage around the corner by Skipolini s. Don Weimann weimanns@astound.net Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 5 of 10
DATE - Discussing Ancient Technology & Engineering Our next DATE (Discussing Ancient Technology & Engineering) meeting will take place Wednesday, MARCH 14, 2018 at 1:30 PM, in the Clayton Valley Bowl Conference Room, and we will watch and discuss a video entitled: DESTINATION MARS. There are expectations that within twenty years or so, we will be sending our first colonizers to the Red Planet. Will Elon Musk and his Space-X company be first in sending astronauts on the six-month journey to be the first Extraterrestrial visitors on the surface of Mars? We don t know just yet. For all we know, Putin and the Russians got themselves seemingly entangled in our US Politics, mainly to distract us from keeping pace with the Space Race to the Red Planet and they are almost already done building a honker of a rocket ship that will be able to transport a whole brigade of Spetznaz up there and take over the planet, before we even get started I had you going there, didn t I? Actually, that s not what this video is about. We ll take a look at what our fascination with the Red planet is all about and why we would want to go there in the first place. We ll see what some of the latest NASA research is showing about the evidence of liquid water on the planet and maybe even the possibility that life on earth might have been seeded from up there. This material is presented in a manner that will have you, the viewer re-thinking human history and perhaps acquiring a better understanding of our place in the cosmos. It s a trip you will never forget, and this time, on Mars, we will be the Aliens George Kapus and John Carl George Kapus - gbkapus@astound.net Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 6 of 10
Area 2 Activities for March The Area 2 Computer & Technology Group [Formerly A2CAT] Next Meeting on Thursday, March 15 th at 9:15am Walnut Creek Elks Lodge 1475 Creekside Dr. Walnut Creek http://a2cat.sirinc2.org/ At our February meeting, and just in time for doing our taxes, Phil Goff presented a comparison of TurboTax with H&R Block s tax preparation software. Phil s presentation was followed by Barry Brown who covered some of the new features in the latest Photoshop Elements Version #18. Those who missed 16 and 17 were relieved to find out that Adobe went from #15 to #18 because they decided to make the edition comport with the year in which it was released. e, Chairman The subject for the March 15, meeting will be, Quicken and its Alternatives. Quicken split off from Intuit last year and is changing to a software by subscription model, where you will pay annually to use the program. Phil Goff and Neil Schmidt will discuss the effects of this upcoming Quicken change and review various financial management alternatives. You might want to be thinking about your own financial management efforts and what features in the program are important to you. We look forward to seeing you 9:15 AM, March 15, at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. We ask for a donation of $5 to cover the cost of the hall rental, coffee and cookies -- but some months are free, so come and see if our March meeting is another one of those! All SIR members and their guests (spouses included!) are welcome to attend. See you there. Bill Phelon - rphelon@juno.com Neil Schmidt, Chairman Area 2 Fishing Group The Legends Diablo Creek G.C. Meets on the 4 th Thurs Next Meeting on Thurs, March 22nd, 8:30 am 4050 Port Chicago Highway in Concord. AREA 2 FISHING NEWS FOR March All SIR members and guests are welcome, and indeed encouraged, to participate in fishing trips as well as attend the monthly meetings. Next meeting will be Thursday, March 22nd, at the Legend Sports Bar and Grill at the Diablo Creek Golf Course at 4050 Port Chicago Highway in Concord. Meeting starts at 8:30am, come early. This has been a fantastic winter for weather and fishing. Trout at local lakes are the headliners, Stan Wong, Thom Wadkins, Terry Miller, George Vogt, Phil Scimonelli, Bob Hillaker, Bob Stein, Gordon Linebaugh, Carl Moyer, and Reggie Fromm all caught nice sized red fleshed rainbows from San Pablo Reservoir and Shadow Cliffs Reservoir. Tom Kostik, Mike Corker, Dick Thomson, and Terry Miller caught stripers from the delta. Rich Fiscina, Pedro Contreras, Tom Boltz, Pete Gates, and Brion Beetz fished for sturgeon, but no keepers. Tom Anders got Northern Pike through the ice in Wisconsin. Bob Fieber, and Joe Miscione joined Carl Moyer on his annual venture to Barbara s Fish Trap in Half Moon Bay. Brion Beetz fished on a party boat from Monterey for sand dabs and crab, getting lots of sand dabs and a few crab. What a great start on the new year! Contacts: Paul Dubow (415-495-6504) Carl Moyer (925-685-5243) Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 7 of 10
Area 2 Investments / Wealth Management The Area 2 $ums Investment Group Next Meeting on Wed, March 28 th Legends Diablo Creek G.C. 4050 Port Chicago Highway Breakfast available at 7am. Our next meeting is Wed March 28 th at 8 AM at the Legends Restaurant at the Diablo Creek Country Club - Port Chicago Highway, 1/4 mile north of Highway 4 in Concord. The presenter will be Scott Horton of J.P. King Advisors. Scott will update us on his thinking about the possibility of a 'summer rally' for stocks in the coming months. The Legends opens at 7 AM. Come early and have a leisurely breakfast with your colleagues prior to the meeting. http://www.a2sums.sirinc2.org $SUMS Chair: Tom Henry (Br-174) 925-284-5724 tomhenry925@gmail.com Co-Chair: David Sutton (Br-8) 925-686-0158, davesutn@yahoo.com Area 2 Activities and Events www.area2.sirinc2.org This is the address of the AREA 2 Activities and Events page. It will give you the web address for all of the Area 2 activities as well as the web address for each branch in Area 2 so you can explore the individual branch activities. SIR Area 2 Travel Opportunities 2018 Send your brief trip information to Bob Spellman at bobnjo@astound.net by the 25 th of the month. Only trips of at least 4 days or more in length will be listed Feb 8-16,2018: Tropical Costa Rica. Highlights of this trip include, air, insurance, 13 meals, gratuities and guides. You will visit the unique ecosystem of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Doka Coffee Estate, the Arenal Volcano the Cano Negro Nature Preserve and much more. Cost is $3299. Jim Stoner, Br 114, 408-238- 8458 or Larry Martinson, 408-528-0746. Mar 4-8, 2018: Giants Spring Training. 5- day trip to Scottsdale to see three MBL Cactus league games. Reserved seats, R/T air for SFO, Accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn including breakfast. Hosted dinner at Talking Stick Resort/Casino and more for only $1445.00pp. Contact Derlin German, Br. 58, Petaluma, 707-763-6162. Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 8 of 10
Apr 4-14, 2018: Tulip Time in Holland. A 7-night Cruise R/T to Amsterdam aboard AMA Waterways. Celebrate the beauty of the Netherlands and Belgium in the springtime. You will visit the legendary Keukenfof Gardens, and pass colorful row houses and houseboats, See Ann Franks home then indulge in culinary bliss via Belgium chocolates and stroopwafel. Cost ranges from $4830.00 to $6195.00 based on cabin choice and includes complimentary bikes, unlimited complimentary fine dining and wines, all guides, gratuities and taxes, R/T air, choice of excursions, and river view staterooms or suites. John Pletsch, Br.32, 408-274-2992 or Mike Console, 408-246-1080. Apr 18-27, 2018: Spring Tulip River Cruise. 10-day Cruise featuring Dutch and Belgium Waterways. Highlights include Amsterdam, Volendam, Hoorn. Arnhem. Middelburg, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Kinderdijk windmills. Utrecht and Keukenhof Gardens. Cost $4376 to $7176 and includes RT Air, Insurance, Air Taxes, Hotels and transfers. Bill Britton, Br121, 925-443-9913. May 12-18, 2018: Southern Charm Discovery. Trip features Jekyll Island, Savannah & Charleston, Jacksonville, St Simons Island, Andrew Low House, and choice of Boone Hall Plantation or Patriots Pt. Naval Museum. Cost is $2836.00 covers air taxes & fees, hotel & transfers, gratuities and R/T air, Bill Rodman, Br 38, 408-274-4521 or Alan Patmore, 408-867-4197. May 25-Jun 9, 2018: Historic Cities of Eastern Canada & New England. 16- day trip begins in Toronto then Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal. Then travelers will board Holland America cruise ship and cruise down the St Lawrence river to Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax and onto Bar Harbor ending in Boston. Cost is $3695 to $5185 (without Airfare). Jim Hohenshelt, Br 62, 408-394-7226 or Roy Jordan, 408-735-8765. Sep 8, 2018: Colorado Train Trip. 7- day trip with stops at the US Airforce academy, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Colorado National Monument and Colorado Museum. Cost $3035 and includes 15 meals, R/T Air, home pickup and back, professional tour manager, Larry Yarberry, Br 8, 925-890-9245. Sep 13-23, 2018: Alaska Inside Passage. 11-day cruise starting in SF with ports of call at Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and Victoria B.C. Trip includes R/T transfer, Gratuities, Shipboard credit, and Photo. Cost $1899.oo to $3249 depending on cabin. Tom Molinari, Br 147, 707-762-1880. Sep 23-Oct 2, 2018: American Queen St Louis to Memphis. The cruise begins with overnight stay in St Louis and ends with another overnight in Memphis, including tours in each city. The trip includes all transfers, R/T Air, port changes hotel cost, shore excursions, all meals on board ship, complimentary beer and wine. Ports of call include Alton, Chester, Cape Girardeau, Paducah, Dover, New Madrid, Ashport Landing, and Memphis Cost is $3300 to $5960 depending on cabin. Mike Console, 408-246-1080 Br 32. San Jose. Oct 21-31-2018: Crystal Mozart River Cruise. Enjoy Europe s majesty and history of the scenic Wachau Valley, An Austrian wonderland. Stops include Durnstein, Melk, Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna. Prices start at $6485 for deluxe stateroom with large picture window. Crystal s complimentary services includes butler, gratuities, unlimited refreshments, free internet, port charges, and transfers. Larry Martinson, Br 114, 408-528- 0746 or Jim Stoner, 408-238-8458. Feb 15-Mar 2, 2019: Cruise from San Francisco to Ft Lauderdale. 15 day cruise aboard the Coral Princess with port stops at Cabo San Lucas, San Juan Del Sur, Puntarenas, Fuerte Amador, cruising through the Panama Canal, Cartagena, and Ft Lauderdale. Cost ranges from $3390 to $4190 depending on stateroom and includes, home pickup, shipboard meals and entertainment, R/T airfare, luggage handling, transfers, all drivers and porters, gratuities, all applicable taxes and travel gift.arkady Belogolovsky, Br. 54, 408-253-3956, or Joe Salamida, 408-767-2838. Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 9 of 10
Please take a look at the following. It was recently released by the State Committee in an effort to bring more clarity to what it means to be a SIR. Volume 50 Issue 3 Page 10 of 10